Amritsar – the holy city

“Only those entirely devoid of all spirituality could fail to feel something of the presence of God” -Sir Mark Tully, BBC on his Amritsar tour
Amritsar, literally meaning “holy pool of nector” is the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh religion as it is home to the Golden Temple in India. The nucleus of this City, the Harmandir Sahib, widely known as the Golden temple, today is on the threshold of being designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has already been acknowledged by popular BBC Holidays poll as the fifth most desired to be visited places in the world-much above the Taj Mahal and Great Wall of China. Apart from the beauty and grandeur of this temple, it is the spirit of secularism, the voluntary service and the sweet vibrations of divinity that draw over 100,000 tourists every day to this place of worship.
Amritsar might be a small border town on India but reflects history and character in every which way possible, whether it is historical or religious. A city close to our heart, can’t wait to be encrypted in detail.

Sightseeing

Jallianwala Bagh

Jallianwala Bagh is a public garden located in Amritsar, Punjab in India. In the pre-Independence era, public rallies were organized on the grounds of Jalianwala Bagh. Inside the garden, a memorial was built in 1951. This was in remembrance of the innocent people who died in the April 1919 massacre at the park, at the hands of General Dyer, a British Commander who opened fire on innocent people who had gathered there for a rally, on that fateful day. Later a flame in honour of the martyrs was added. Since then, it has become the centre of political and humanitarian significance. Dignitaries around the world, whether of political or social significance, have visited the place and offered their regrets and respect including Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. It remains to date a heartfelt and extremely sad memory in the hearts of Indians throughout the world.

Akal Takht

Just near the Golden Temple of Amritsar and opposite to the marbled Darshni Deorhi, the Akal Takht stands pretty. Considered the highest seat of the Sikh authority, the Akal Takht was built by Guru Hargovind in the year 1609.
Shri Hargovind was the sixth guru of the Sikhs who made immense contribution to popularize the religion. Regarded as the Lord’s home, it is called – Akal Bunga. Respected as the holiest place of the Sikhs, the Akal Takht is visited by thousands of devotees every day. They offer prayers to the Gurus and seek their divine blessings.

DurgianaTemple

A partial replica of the Golden Temple, the Durgiana temple is situated outside the Lohgarh Gate. It is dedicated to the Goddess Durga and is frequented by devout Hindus.
Wagah Border: The final frontier, Wagah about 28 kms from Amritsar is the only border crossing between India and Pakistan. It is an interesting experience especially at sunset when the ‘Retreat’ ceremony takes place with the BSF on the Indian Side of the Border. The changing of the guards and the ceremonial lowering of the flags ceremony is carried out with great pomp.

How to reach Amritsar- “jewel of Punjab”

Touched by many international flights daily, a number likely to grow swiftly, Shri Guru Ram Dass International Airport, Amritsar is well connected indeed.
With superb road and rail in form of the Shatabdi and Rajdhani Rail coaches, this city requires very little effort to make it a truly international tourist destination.

Food treats

Amritsar travel is incomplete without food as it is a foodie’s paradise. There are many places to explore and best food can be found at road-side joints, many of which go without a name. The lip smacking culinary delights at Kesar ka Dhaba, the famous Kulfi shops, Bira Chicken House, Makhan fish corner are few of the many popular enterprises that make the Amritsar food experience unique. The amritsari kulchas at the Triangular area on Maqbool Road are the reason why the Amritsari kulchas are world famous. Shifting the warmth and hospitality of the gregarious Punjabi community from the roadside Dhabas, it can also be enjoyed at a fine dining restaurant at Ranjit Avenue- Astoria Food Palivion. The sights, sounds and tastes offered at this historic City makes a weeklong tour to Amritsar worth your while.
“When in Amritsar, Eat as the Amritsaris do.”

Best time to visit

Geographically located in a trough, the best time to visit Amritsar is between November and March when the weather is comparatively pleasant and ideal for sightseeing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]